Leadership Columbia Program
Purpose
Leadership Columbia is a program developed by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the Fair Missouri Foundation and sponsored by Trulaske College of Business to identify, cultivate and motivate future community leaders. This informative and thought-provoking program introduces participants to the community, exposes them to its challenges and requires them to fully participate in the 12-session curriculum which ultimately supports the Chamber's strategic initiatives and goals.
By the end of Leadership Columbia, participants will:
- Cultivate and develop leadership skills, positively impacting them both personally and professionally
- Better understand the community and its leaders
- Recognize interactions between private citizens and public organizations
- See Columbia in terms of the "big picture"
- Know more people – from classmates to presenters to steering committee members
- Gain valuable networking contacts
- Be prepared to serve the community and know the service opportunities available
The Selection Process
Each potential participant must submit a completed application, resume, and a tuition check to be considered for the program. Scholarships are available in the Leadership Columbia Application. Completed applications and tuition payments must be received by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce by Thursday, October 20, 2011, 5 p.m.
Each application is reviewed by a Selection Committee. In addition to reviewing each individual's qualifications, the committee will also look for a broad spectrum of experience and background. Selection for Leadership Columbia is based on the following criteria:
- Involvement in professional and/or managerial positions
- Demonstrated ability and desire to assume greater community leadership responsibility
- A clear willingness to make a commitment to the demands of the program and the community in subsequent years
- Proof of the full support of the organization or business they represent.
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the program by November 3, 2011. At that point, participants will be required to submit a current professional photograph to be used throughout the year before receiving a final 2012 schedule for Leadership Columbia.
Steering Committee
Purpose
Identify and nurture future leaders who can guide our community to
achieve the economic vitality that will provide lasting benefit for
the future.
Goals
- Provide a leadership-focused program curriculum that exposes participants to a wide variety of elements affecting the Columbia community
- Create a thorough understanding of the mission and vision of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and its overall impact on the community
- Build leadership skills and awareness among participants, helping them understand leadership in a variety of situations and applications within the community
- Educate participants about current and long-term issues facing Columbia's business and community planning and challenge them to work toward solutions
- Equip participants with an appreciation of how security issues facing today's leaders affect our community and its residents
- Create an inclusive environment and curriculum that embraces differences in beliefs, opinions, abilities, generations and cultures
- Provide opportunities for participants to establish long-term relationships with fellow participants, steering committee members, Chamber representatives and session presenters
- Gain extended commitment from all participants to take an active leadership role in a business, civic, non-profit or political organization upon graduation from the program
- Formulate, through the knowledge and experience gained during the Leadership Columbia program, recommendations to be presented to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Benefit
Through education and development of program participants, Leadership
Columbia builds committed and motivated community leaders, and promotes
active participation in community organizations and leadership.
